U.S. patent number 7,305,280 [Application Number 10/977,131] was granted by the patent office on 2007-12-04 for method and system for providing offset to computed evapotranspiration values.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hydropoint Data Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Michael Marian.
United States Patent |
7,305,280 |
Marian |
December 4, 2007 |
Method and system for providing offset to computed
evapotranspiration values
Abstract
A system for providing irrigation control is provided. The
system includes a processor configured to calculate an offset to an
evapotranspiration (ET) value and an irrigation system configured
to receive the offset from the processor and provide appropriate
irrigation adjustment based on the offset. The offset is calculated
based on the ET value and the ET value has been previously provided
to the irrigation system.
Inventors: |
Marian; Michael (Penngrove,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Hydropoint Data Systems, Inc.
(Petaluma, CA)
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Family
ID: |
34841725 |
Appl.
No.: |
10/977,131 |
Filed: |
October 29, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20050119797 A1 |
Jun 2, 2005 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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60515932 |
Oct 29, 2003 |
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60515905 |
Oct 29, 2003 |
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60515628 |
Oct 29, 2003 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/284; 239/69;
239/63; 137/78.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G05D
22/02 (20130101); A01G 25/167 (20130101); Y10T
137/1866 (20150401); Y02A 40/50 (20180101); Y10T
137/189 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
G05D
7/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;700/284,281,282,283
;239/69,723,63,67,68,70 ;405/36,37 ;137/78.2,78.3 ;73/170.16 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
Michalakes, J., "Design of a Next-Generation Regional Weather
Research and Forecast Model," Preprint ANL/MCS-P735-1198, entire
document, Nov. 1998. cited by other.
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Primary Examiner: Picard; Leo
Assistant Examiner: Kasenge; Charles
Attorney, Agent or Firm: McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119 from (1) U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/515,905, entitled "METHOD FOR PROVIDING OFFSET TO COMPUTED
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION VALUES", filed on Oct. 29, 2003, (2) U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/515,932, entitled
"METHOD FOR CONTROLLING IRRIGATION USING COMPUTED
EVAPOTRANSPIRATION VALUES", filed on Oct. 29, 2003, and (3) U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/515,628, entitled
"METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN IRRIGATION SCHEDULING ENGINE USING
COMPUTED EVAPOTRANSPIRATION VALUES", filed on Oct. 29, 2003, the
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety for all purposes.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An irrigation control system comprising: a plurality of data
sources for collecting weather data at a plurality of areas; a
processor receiving the weather data; the processor calculating a
completely populated 4-D grid of weather parameters from the
weather data, the 4-D grid comprising x, y, z and time locations;
the processor calculating an offset to an ET value at a target
location by extracting x, y, z and time locations from the 4-D grid
of the weather parameters; and an irrigation system configured to
receive the offset from the processor and provide appropriate
irrigation adjustment of the target location based on the offset;
wherein the offset is calculated based on the ET value and the ET
value has been previously provided to the irrigation system.
2. The irrigation control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality
of areas are all located outside of an irrigation region in which
the irrigation control is being provided, and the target location
is located within the irrigation region.
3. The irrigation control system of claim 1, wherein the 4-D grid
of the weather parameters are calculated using a numerical weather
model.
4. The irrigation control system of claim 1, wherein the 4-D grid
is fully bounded in space and time with known starting and ending
conditions.
5. The irrigation control system of claim 1, wherein the 4-D grid
of weather parameters are calculated using a modified modeling
program.
6. An irrigation control system comprising: a processor retrieving
the weather data from a plurality of data sources that collect
weather data at a plurality of areas; the processor calculating a
populated 4-D grid of weather parameters from the weather data; the
processor calculating an offset of an ET value at a target location
by extracting x, y, z and time locations from the 4-D grid of the
weather parameters; and providing the offset to the ET value to an
irrigation system located at the target location, thereby allowing
the irrigation system to provide irrigation control based on the
received offset to the ET value.
7. The irrigation control system of claim 6, wherein the plurality
of areas are all located outside of an irrigation region in which
the irrigation control is being provided, and the target location
is located within the irrigation region.
8. The irrigation control system of claim 6, wherein the 4-D grid
of the weather parameters are calculated using a numerical weather
model.
9. The irrigation control system of claim 6, wherein the 4-D grid
is fully bounded in space and time with known starting and ending
conditions.
10. The irrigation control system of claim 6, wherein the 4-D grid
of weather parameters are calculated using a modified modeling
program.
11. A method of providing irrigation control comprising: collecting
weather data from a plurality areas; calculating a completely
populated 4-D grid of weather parameters from the weather data;
calculating an offset to an ET value at a target location by
extracting x, y, z and time locations from the 4-D grid of the
weather parameters; creating or altering an irrigation program
based on the offset to the ET value; and controlling irrigation at
the target area based on the irrigation program.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of areas are all
located outside of an irrigation region in which the irrigation
control is being provided, and the target location is located
within the irrigation region.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the 4-D grid of the weather
parameters are calculated using a numerical weather model.
14. The irrigation method of claim 11, wherein the 4-D grid is
fully bounded in space and time with known starting and ending
conditions.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the 4-D grid of weather
parameters are calculated using a modified modeling program.
16. A method of providing irrigation control comprising: retrieving
weather data from a plurality areas; calculating a completely
populated 4-D grid of weather parameters from the weather data;
calculating an offset to an ET value at a target location by
extracting x, y, z and time locations from the 4-D grid of the
weather parameters; forwarding the offset to an irrigation system;
and directing the irrigation system to provide appropriate
irrigation adjustment based on the offset; wherein the offset is
calculated based on the ET value and the ET value has been
previously provided to the irrigation system.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the plurality of areas are all
located outside of an irrigation region in which the irrigation
control is being provided, and the target location is located
within the irrigation region.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the 4-D grid of the weather
parameters are calculated using a numerical weather model.
19. The irrigation method of claim 16, wherein the 4-D grid is
fully bounded in space and time with known starting and ending
conditions.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the 4-D grid of weather
parameters are calculated using a modified modeling program.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to irrigation control and,
more specifically, to methods and systems for providing offset to
computed evapotranspiration (ET) values in a remote manner.
Typically, irrigation control information is manually input by an
user to an irrigation system in order to allow the irrigation
system to provide an appropriate amount of irrigation. Such
irrigation control information is generally based on measurements
obtained by the user from other equipment and/or data collected by
a weather station. The irrigation system, in turn, provides an
appropriate amount of irrigation based on the input
information.
The foregoing irrigation arrangement has a number of shortcomings.
For example, the user has to first obtain the requisite irrigation
control information and then manually input such information into
the irrigation system. Furthermore, such information does not
necessarily accurately reflect the local weather conditions that
are applicable to the areas covered by the irrigation system. This
is because the irrigation control information may be generated
based on data collected by a distant or non-local weather station
that is located some distance away from the areas covered by the
irrigation system. The weather station may be located in an area
where the weather conditions vary quite significantly from those of
the areas covered by the irrigation system. As a result, the
irrigation control information (which is based on data collected
from the distant weather station) may cause the irrigation system
to provide irrigation that is substantially different from what is
required for the areas covered by the irrigation system.
Furthermore, due to inaccuracies in measuring weather conditions,
irrigation control information often needs to be updated. For
example, in some conventional irrigation systems, a new ET value is
calculated solely based on the latest weather conditions. The new
ET value, however, does not take into account irrigation already
performed based on any past erroneous ET value. As a result, the
resulting irrigation based on the new ET value does not initially
accurately reflect the true weather conditions. It is only after a
certain adjustment period that the resulting irrigation based on
the new ET value conforms to the true weather conditions.
Hence, it would be desirable to provide a system that is capable of
providing accurate irrigation in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, a system for providing irrigation control is
provided. The system includes a processor configured to calculate
an offset to an evapotranspiration (ET) value, and an irrigation
system configured to receive the offset from the processor and
provide appropriate irrigation adjustment based on the offset,
wherein the offset is calculated based on the ET value and the ET
value has been previously provided to the irrigation system.
In another embodiment, a system for providing irrigation control
includes a processor configured to calculate an offset to an
evapotranspiration (ET) value, the processor further configured to
create or alter an irrigation program based on the offset, and an
irrigation system configured to receive the irrigation program from
the processor and provide appropriate irrigation adjustment based
on the irrigation program, wherein the offset is calculated based
on the ET value and the ET value was used to create or alter a
prior irrigation program previously provided to the irrigation
system.
In yet another embodiment, a system for providing irrigation
control includes a number of non-local data sources for providing
data, a processor configured to receive data from one or more of
the non-local data sources and calculate an offset to an
evapotranspiration (ET) value for an area that is non-local with
respect to the non-local data sources, the processor further
configured to create or alter an irrigation program based on the
offset, wherein the offset is calculated based on the ET value, and
an irrigation system located in the area and configured to receive
the irrigation program from the processor and provide appropriate
irrigation adjustment for the area using the irrigation
program.
In a further embodiment, a system for providing irrigation control
includes a number of non-local data sources for providing data, a
processor configured to receive data from one or more of the
non-local data sources and calculate an offset to an
evapotranspiration (ET) value for an area that is non-local with
respect to the non-local data sources, the processor further
configured to create one or more components constituting an
irrigation program based on the offset, wherein the offset is
calculated based on the ET value, and an irrigation system located
in the area and configured to receive the one or more components
from the processor.
In yet a further embodiment, a system for providing irrigation
control includes a number of non-local data sources for providing
data, a processor configured to receive data from one or more of
the non-local data sources and calculate an offset to an
evapotranspiration (ET) value for an area that is non-local with
respect to the non-local data sources, wherein the offset is
calculated based on the ET value, and an irrigation system located
in the area and configured to receive the offset from the
processor, create or alter an irrigation program based on the
offset and provide appropriate irrigation adjustment for the area
using the irrigation program.
In one aspect of the present invention, a method for providing
irrigation control is provided. The method includes: calculating an
offset to an evapotranspiration (ET) value, forwarding the offset
to an irrigation system, and directing the irrigation system to
provide appropriate irrigation adjustment based on the offset,
wherein the offset is calculated based on the ET value and the ET
value has been previously provided to the irrigation system.
In another aspect of the present invention, a method for providing
irrigation control includes: calculating an offset to an
evapotranspiration (ET) value, creating or altering an irrigation
program based on the offset, forwarding the irrigation program to
an irrigation system, and directing the irrigation system to
provide appropriate irrigation adjustment based on the irrigation
program, wherein the offset is calculated based on the ET value and
the ET value was used to create or alter a prior irrigation program
previously provided to the irrigation system.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for
providing irrigation control includes: receiving data from one or
more non-local data sources, using the data received from the one
or more non-local data sources to calculate an offset to an
evapotranspiration (ET) value for an area that is non-local with
respect to the non-local data sources, wherein the offset is
calculated based on the ET value, creating or altering an
irrigation program based on the offset, and receiving the
irrigation program at an irrigation system, and directing the
irrigation system to provide appropriate irrigation adjustment for
the area using the irrigation program.
In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for
providing irrigation control includes: receiving data from one or
more non-local data sources, using the data received from the one
or more non-local data sources to calculate an offset to an
evapotranspiration (ET) value for an area that is non-local with
respect to the one or more non-local data sources, wherein the
offset is calculated based on the ET value, creating one or more
components constituting an irrigation program based on the offset,
and forwarding the one or more components to an irrigation system
located in the area.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method for
providing irrigation control includes: receiving data from one or
more non-local data sources, using the data received from the one
or more non-local data sources to calculate an offset to an
evapotranspiration (ET) value for an area that is non-local with
respect to the one or more non-local data sources, wherein the
offset is calculated based on the ET value, forwarding the offset
to an irrigation system located in the area, and directing the
irrigation system to create or alter an irrigation program based on
the offset and provide appropriate irrigation adjustment for the
area using the irrigation program.
Reference to the remaining portions of the specification, including
the drawings and claims, will realize other features and advantages
of the present invention. Further features and advantages of the
present invention, as well as the structure and operation of
various embodiments of the present invention, are described in
detail below with respect to accompanying drawings, like reference
numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention
will become apparent from the following description of the
invention presented in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings:
FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic block diagram illustrating one
embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic block diagram illustrating one
embodiment of an irrigation system according to the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention in the form of one or more embodiments will
now be described. As shown in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the present
invention is a system 100 that includes a number of non-local data
sources 102a-c, a processor 104 and an irrigation system 106. The
processor 104 is configured to receive data from one or more of the
non-local data sources 102a-c, use such data to compute an ET value
and then transfer the computed ET value to the irrigation system
106. The irrigation system 106 is configured to receive the
computed ET value from the processor 104 and provide irrigation or
perform other irrigation functions accordingly.
Each data source 102 provides information that can be utilized to
generate irrigation control information including, for example, an
ET value. The ET value is calculated based on a number of
parameters including, for example, relative humidity, soil
temperature, air temperature, wind speed and solar radiation. The
number of parameters may vary depending on the methodology that is
used to calculate the ET value. The data sources 102a-c
collectively provide information on these parameters. Each data
source 102 may provide information corresponding to one or more
parameters. The information is then used to compute the ET value,
as will be further described below. Data from the non-local data
sources 102a-c is used because the area in which the irrigation
system 106 is located does not have sufficient measuring apparatus
or resources to obtain local information that is needed to
determine the ET value in that area.
The data sources 102a-c are non-local in the sense that they are
not located in the same general area as the irrigation system 106.
For example, one data source is the National Weather Service which
provides general weather information across the United States;
other data sources include databases or data feeds from various
universities and government agencies. It should be understood that
the meaning of the term "non-local" is not strictly defined by
physical distance; "non-local" may also refer to an area that is
subject to generally different weather conditions. For example, two
areas may be physically close to one another; however, they may be
non-local with respect to each other because they have generally
different weather conditions attributed to different geographical
topologies and different topographies. As mentioned before, the
data sources 102a-c collectively provide data that relate to the
various parameters that are used to compute the ET value for the
area(s) covered by the irrigation system 106. For example, data
collected from the data sources 102a-c include surface
observations, upper air observations, sea surface temperatures and
current global initialization 4D (4-dimensional) grids, etc.
Data from the data sources 102a-c are transmitted to the processor
104. It should be noted that data from the data sources 102a-c can
be transmitted to the processor 104 in a number of ways including,
for example, via a computer network such as the Internet. Based on
the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary
skill in the art will know of other ways and/or methods to transmit
the data from the data sources 102a-c to the processor 104 in
accordance with the present invention.
The processor 104, in turn, processes the data to calculate the
desired ET value for each particular area covered by the irrigation
system 106. First, the processor 104 calculates the requisite
weather parameters in 4D space.
The weather parameters in 4D space are calculated as follows. The
gridded terrain elevation, vegetation and land use are horizontally
interpolated onto each mesoscale domain. Input fields such as soil
types, vegetation fraction, and deep soil temperature, are
populated from historical data.
Then, the 4D gridded meteorological analyses on pressure levels are
input and those analyses are interpolated from global grids to each
mesoscale domain. The foregoing steps perform the pressure-level
and surface analyses. Two-dimensional interpolation is performed on
these levels to ensure a completely populated grid.
Next, the global initialization on each mesoscale grid is adjusted
by incorporating observation data from the data sources 102a-c.
Different types of observation data are used including, for
example, traditional direct observations of temperature, humidity,
wind from surface and upper air data as well as remote sensed data,
such as, radar and satellite imagery. The three-dimensional and
four-dimensional variational techniques both integrate and perform
quality control on the data, eliminating questionable data to
improve the global initialization grids.
The initial boundary conditions are then calculated and formatted
for input to a numerical weather model. It will be appreciated that
a number of different numerical weather models can be used
depending on each particular application. Based on the disclosure
and teachings provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the
art will know how to select the appropriate numerical weather model
in accordance with the present invention. For example, one process
converts pressure level data to an "S" coordinate system under
bounded conditions in 4D space (x, y, z and time). The integrated
mean divergence or noise conditions that the initial analyses may
contain are then removed to create a stable base state for the
numerical weather model.
Using the numerical weather model, and the appropriate physics
options, the requisite weather parameters in 4D space are then
calculated. This is a fully bounded 4D grid in both space and time
with known starting and ending conditions.
Calculation of the weather parameters can be performed by the
processor 104 using a number of modeling applications (not shown)
that are publicly available. These modeling applications can be
modified to perform the functions as described above. One such
modeling application is known as the PSU/NCAR mesoscale model
(known as MM5). The MM5 is a limited-area, nonhydrostatic,
terrain-following sigma-coordinate model designed to simulate or
predict mesoscale atmospheric circulation. Another such modeling
application is the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) model
created by UCAR (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research).
Based on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of
ordinary skill in the art will know how to select and modify the
various available modeling applications for use in accordance with
the present invention.
The calculated weather parameters outputted from the numerical
weather model are then used to calculate the ET value for a target
location in 2D space. Corresponding weather parameters needed for
calculating the ET value for the target location are extracted at
specific x, y, z & time locations.
The ET value at the target location is then calculated and a 2D
gridded surface for the 24 hour period is created. It should be
understood that the ET value may be calculated based on one of a
number of different formulas. Based on the disclosure and teachings
provided herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate how to select the appropriate formula depending on each
particular situation.
Finally, any artifacts, edge effects and anomalies created by
mesoscale grid boundaries conditions and/or errors are
eliminated.
The processor 104 then transfers the computed ET value to the
irrigation system 106. Upon receiving the computed ET value, the
irrigation system 106 can then provide the proper irrigation or
perform other irrigation functions in an automated manner.
The processor 104 is typically located at some distance away from
the irrigation system 106. The transfer of the computed ET value
from the processor 104 to the irrigation system 106 can be done in
a number of ways. For example, the computed ET value can be
transmitted to the irrigation system 106 via wired or wireless
communications. Based on the disclosure and teachings provided
herein, a person of ordinary skill in the art will know of other
ways and/or methods to transfer the computed ET value from the
processor 104 to the irrigation system 106.
Furthermore, in one embodiment, the processor 104 first encrypts or
mathematically alters the computed ET value before transferring it
to the irrigation system 106. The irrigation system 106 is equipped
with the corresponding decryption algorithm to decrypt or restore
the computed ET value.
In an alternative embodiment, after the processor 104 derives the
weather parameters, such weather parameters are transferred to the
irrigation system 106. Using the transferred weather parameters,
the irrigation system 106 then computes the appropriate ET value.
Optionally, the processor 104 can encrypt the weather parameters
before transferring them to the irrigation system 106 and the
irrigation system 106 is equipped with the corresponding decryption
algorithm to decrypt or restore such data.
In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the irrigation system 106
further includes a scheduling engine 108. The scheduling engine 108
further includes an irrigation program 110 that is designed to
control various components of the irrigation system 106 to
automatically provide proper irrigation or perform other irrigation
functions. The scheduling engine 108 may use the received or
derived computed ET value to either create one or more new
irrigation programs or, alternatively, alter one or more existing
irrigation programs.
In an alternative embodiment, after the processor 104 computes the
ET value as described above, the processor 104 uses the computed ET
value to create or alter an irrigation program 110 suitable for the
irrigation system 106. The irrigation program 110 is then
transferred or uploaded to the irrigation system 106. Subsequently,
the scheduling engine 108 uses the irrigation program 110 to
provide the proper irrigation or perform other irrigation
functions.
Alternatively, the processor 104 uses the computed ET value to
create information that can be used by the scheduling engine 108 to
update or alter the irrigation program 110. Such information is
then forwarded by the processor 104 to the scheduling engine 108 so
as to allow the scheduling engine 108 to update or alter the
irrigation program 110.
In another alternative embodiment, after the irrigation program 110
is created or altered, the processor 104 breaks down the irrigation
program 110 into one or more component values. Such component
values are then transferred from the processor 104 to the
scheduling engine 108. The scheduling engine 108 uses such
component values to derive or re-constitute the irrigation program
110. The irrigation program 110 is then used by the scheduling
engine 108 to provide the proper irrigation or perform other
irrigation functions. The component values of the irrigation
program 110 may be individually transmitted to the scheduling
engine 108 at different times.
Optionally, the irrigation program 110 or component values thereof
are mathematically altered or encrypted before they are transferred
to the irrigation system 106 by the processor 104. The irrigation
system 106 is equipped with the corresponding decryption algorithm
to decrypt or restore the irrigation program 110 or component
values thereof.
In one embodiment, the irrigation program 110 has a number of
discrete states respectively representing various stages of
irrigation to be provided by the irrigation system 106. The
processor 104 executes the irrigation program 110 and, upon
arriving at a particular discrete state, the processor 104
transfers information relating to that particular discrete state to
the scheduling engine 108. The scheduling engine 108, in response,
provides the proper irrigation or performs other irrigation
functions.
Optionally, the information relating to the discrete states can be
mathematically altered or encrypted before it is transferred to the
scheduling engine 108. The scheduling engine 108 is equipped with
the corresponding decryption algorithm to decrypt or restore such
information.
In addition, in some situations, the ET value is computed based on
erroneous information. In one embodiment, the processor 104 is
configured to re-calculate a new, correct ET value using the
latest, accurate information. Moreover, using the new ET value and
the old ET value, the processor 104 is further configured to
calculate an offset. The offset is similar to a delta function that
represents a correction to the old ET value. The processor 104 then
transfers the offset to the irrigation system 106. The irrigation
system 106, in turn, updates the old ET value with the offset and
provides the appropriate irrigation or performs other irrigation
functions via, for example, the scheduling engine 108 and/or the
irrigation program 110. Since the old ET value is taken into
consideration when the offset is calculated, past erroneous
irrigation is corrected by the irrigation system 106 when the
offset is used by the scheduling engine 108 and/or irrigation
program 110 to provide the proper irrigation.
Optionally, the offset can be mathematically altered or encrypted
before it is transferred to the irrigation system 106.
In an alternative embodiment described above where the processor
104 creates or alters an irrigation program 110 based on the
computed ET value, the processor 104 can further utilize the offset
to create a new irrigation program or alter an existing irrigation
program. The new or altered irrigation program can then be
forwarded to the irrigation system 106.
In an exemplary implementation, the present invention is
implemented using software in the form of control logic, in either
an integrated or a modular manner. The control logic may reside on
a computer-readable medium executable by the processor 104 or a
computer. Alternatively, hardware or a combination of software and
hardware can also be used to implement the present invention. Based
on the disclosure and teachings provided herein, a person of
ordinary skill in the art will know of other ways and/or methods to
implement the present invention.
It is understood that the examples and embodiments described herein
are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications
or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in
the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of
this application and scope of the appended claims. All
publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein are
hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes in their
entirety.
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